Envelope



Nov. 7, 1967 P. w. scHRoE-DER 3,351,268

ENVELOPE Filed June 9, 1966 United States Patent O Texas Filed' .lune 9, 1966, Ser. No. 556,399 4 Claims. (Cl. 229-72) ABSTRACT F THE VDISCLOSURE An envelope for use with an identification card to be mailed with the other enclosures therein and with the car positioned substantially on the exterior of the back panel of the envelope with the card retained and covered by the sealing flap when mailed. The back panel has an elongated slot adjacent tov and parallel to the fold line defining the back panel to receive the lower edge of the card and one or more thumb slots forming flaps to engage the upper edge of the card. The identification card can be exposed by `folding back the sealing ap of the envelope for closure of the envelope and card in a separate window envelope for mailing to the person named on the card.

The present invention relates to a novel envelope and more particularly to an envelope adapted for use by banks wherein the individual depositors are assigned deposit numbers .and are provided with deposit identification cards.

A new bank-by-mail system utilizes a small plastic card 'that is embossed with the customers name, address and -account number. The card or plate is utilized by the bank to encode the customers deposits for direct and accurate input to their accounts. The present envelope is used to enable the card to be sent by the customer to the bank and, after the deposit is made, the card is returned to the customer in another of these envelopes enclosed in an outer window envelope; the name and address on the card being shown in the window of the outer envelope.

Among the objects of the present invention is the provision of an envelope utilized by a bank customer for the mailing of his deposits to the bank along with a card carrying the customers name, address and account number. The card is located and retained in a novel manner in a slot of the envelope for ease of access and removal from the envelope by the bank for use in entering the deposit to the customers account.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an envelope having provision for retaining a customers account card on the exterior surface of the back panel of the envelope. 'Ihe envelope is further provided with a large sealing flap which is of such a size as to cover and retain the account card when the envelope is closed and sealed for mailing.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of an envelope having a centrally positioned slot in the back panel of the envelope spaced above the lower edge thereof, which slot is adapted to recive the lower edge of the account card such that the card extends into the interior of the envelope. Spaced above the elongated slot are one or more thumb slots cut into the envelope into which the upper edge of the card extends to positively retain the account card in the back panel of the envelope.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, eiiiciency, economy and ease of assembly, and such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and are inherently possessed thereby.

3,351,268 Patented Nov. 7, 1967 In the drawing:

FIGURE l is a perspective view of the novel banking envelope of'the present invention showing the envelope open with the deposit identification card in place for mailing.

FIG. 2 -is a plan View of the open blank from which the envelope of the present invention is formed.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the envelope and identification card taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary rear view of the envelope of FIG. 1 showing the slot and a single thumb slot therein with the identification card shown in dotted outline.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of an open blank similar to FIG. 2 but showing an embodiment utilizing a lower slot and a pair of spaced thumb slots.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary rear view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the embodiment of FIG. 5.

Referring more particularly to the disclosure in the drawing wherein are shown illustrative embodiments of the present invention, FIG. 2 discloses an unfolded blank 10 having a central front panel 11 with a sealing ap 12 at one edge of approximately the same size as the front panel 11 and a back or rear panel 13 at the opposite side of the front panel. Also, end tiaps 14 are at the opposite ends of the front panel 11.

Centrally located in the back panel 13 and spaced above the fold line 15 at the juncture of the front and back panels is an elongated slot 16 and spaced therefrom is cut an arcuate thumb slot 17 located intermediate the ends of the panel. The end lflaps 14, 14 are gummed as at 18 and 19 `and the sealing flap 12 is gummed along its outer longitudinal edge at 20.

To assemble the blank 10 into an envelope 21 (FIG. l), the end flaps 14, 14 are folded inwardly along fold lines 22 and the rear panel 13 is folded upwardly along fold line 15 and secured 'by the adhesive bands 18 and 19 to the end flaps 14, 14. A deposit account card 23 is located in and retained on the envelope by insertion of its lower edge into the slot 16 such that the lower edge enters the slot 16 and abuts the envelope at the fold line 15 and the upper edge is inserted in the thumb slot 17 under the curved flap 24 formed thereby (see FIG. 2).

The customer wishing to make a deposit places the deposit slip and the checks, currency and/or coins within the envelope 21 and the flap 12 is folded down about the fold line 25 and the gummed band 20 adhesively joined to the rear panel 13 along the lower edge thereof below the slot 16; the flap 12 completely covering and enclosing the `account card 23. After the bank has utilized the account card to encode the deposit slip and the money is deposited to the customers account, the deposit account card or plate is inserted into the slot 16 and the thumb slot 17 of a new reply envelope with the wallet or sealing flap 12 turned back "on the front panel 11, the deposit slip is enclosed and both are inserted into a window envelope where the window is aligned with the name and address shown on the deposit account card or plate 23. Thus, the plate furnishes the name and address of the customer for -return to the latter.

FIG. 5 discloses a second embodiment of an envelope blank 10a which is folded into an envelope 21a and is substantially identical to the envelope 21 of FIGS. 1 4 except that the back or rear panel 13*3L is provided with plural retaining means such as two thumb slots 26 cut arcuately into the panel 13a to form a pair of curved flaps 27, 27. These thumb slots 26, 26 `are used in conjunction With an elongated slot 16a to retain the customers deposit account card 235 on the envelope; the thumb slots being located on and overlapping the upper edge of the deposit card 23a adjacent the corners thereof.

Although the present envelope is disclosed as particularly intended for use in a bank-by-mail system utilizing a deposit account identication card, it is to be understood that it is not limited to such use but is adapted for use in mailing various forms or types of credit and other identifying cards.

Having thus disclosed my invention, I claim:

1. An envelope =for use with an identification card, comprising a front panel, a back panel, side aps and a sealing iiap, said side iiaps being adhesively joined to said back panel, and retaining means in the back panel adapted to receive and retain an identication card at the exterior of the back panel including an elongated slot formed in the back panel spaced above but adjacent and parallel to the lower edge of the back panel to receive and locate the lower edge of the identification card, and at least one thumb slot cut into the back panel spaced above the elongated slot to form a shallow flap engaging but the upper edge of the identiiication card, said sealing iiap being of a size to completely cover the retaining means `and exposed identiication card when the ap is adhesively sealed onto the back panel.

2. An envelope as set forth in claim 1, in which the thumb slot is positioned intermediate the ends of the elongated slot, the major portion of the identification card being exposed above the slot and only the lower edge of the car-d enters the slot and envelope and extends to the lower edge of the envelope.

3. An envelope as set forth in claim 1, in which the back panel and the sealing flap are of approximately the same size, as the front panel, and the sealing flap includes .an adhesive band at its Outer longitudinal edge adapted to engage the back panel below the elongated slot when the fla-p is folded downwardly to seal the envelope and cover and retain the identification card in the back panel.

4. An envelope as set forth -in claim 1, in which a pair of aligned thumb slots are located above and one adjacent each end of the slot to form a pair of arcuate tiaps engaging the upper edge of the identiiication card adjacent the ends thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,932,536 10/1933 Standal et al. 229-92.l 1,984,901 12/1934 Swift 229-71 2,298,601 10/ 1942 Tremblett 229-92.7

DAVID M. BOCKE-NEK, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN ENVELOPE FOR USE WITH AN IDENTIFICATION CARD, COMPRISING A FRONT PANEL, A BACK PANEL, SIDE FLAPS AND A SEALING FLAP, SAID SIDE FLAPS BEING ADHESIVELY JOINED TO SAID BACK PANEL, AND RETAINING MEANS IN THE BACK PANEL ADAPTED TO RECEIVE AND RETAIN AN IDENTIFICATION CARD AT THE EXTERIOR OF THE BACK PANEL INCLUDING AN ELONGATED SLOT FORMED IN THE BACK PANEL SPACED ABOVE BUT ADJACENT AND PARALLEL TO THE LOWER EDGE OF THE BACK PANEL TO RECEIVE AND LOCATE THE LOWER EDGE OF THE IDENTIFICATION CARD, AND AT LEAST ONE THUMB SLOT CUT INTO THE BACK PANEL SPACED ABOVE THE ELONGATED SLOT TO FORM, A SHALLOW FLAP ENGAGING BUT THE UPPER EDGE OF THE IDENTIFICATION CARD, SAID SEALING FLAP BEING OF A SIZE TO COMPLETELY COVER THE RETAINING MEANS AND EXPOSED IDENTIFICATION CARD WHEN THE FLAP IS ADHESIVELY SEALED ONTO THE BACK PANEL. 